PBS to launch Charlie Rose weekend show

PBS is going to launch a new Charlie Rose in July, the public broadcaster announced Monday.

The show will air Friday nights at 8:30 and be called "Charlie Rose Weekend."

With his CBS duties, the 71-year-old Rose is going to be a very busy guy. Good for him.

I think the continued appeal of Rose indicates that there is still an appetite for intelligent talk on television -- as well as a dearth of channels and networks providing it.

Here's the release:

PBS today announced CHARLIE ROSE WEEKEND, a new 30-minute series hosted by acclaimed journalist Charlie Rose, to air at 8:30 p.m. on PBS stations nationwide on Fridays. The show will launch in July 2013.

CHARLIE ROSE WEEKEND will feature the iconic television anchor’s focus on the events and conversations shaping the week and the week ahead. Drawing on conversations from his nightly PBS program and new insightful perspectives from around the world, it will capture the defining moments in politics, science, business, culture, media and sports in a fresh, engaged, and smart presentation.

“PBS is my first broadcast home and I’m excited to embark on a new project that, while distinctly different in nature from CHARLIE ROSE, will build on its history and harness the possibilities of the future by a full use of technology and social media,” said Rose. "We will offer a fresh look at the people shaping our lives and the questions that demand answers and context. By bringing together top newsmakers each week and engaging the audience in innovative ways, we will invite viewers to start their weekends on Friday with PBS."

“Bringing Charlie Rose to Friday nights on PBS provides a natural bridge between our Friday evening news and public affairs programming and our arts and culture programming,” added Beth Hoppe, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming. “In his 20 years with PBS, Charlie has become known for his broad-based curiosity and ability to connect the dots—traits he will also bring to this new show. The show promises to be a fresh, dynamic addition to our Friday night lineup, and we are thrilled to bring Charlie to primetime on PBS.”

Emmy Award-winning journalist Charlie Rose has appeared nightly on PBS nationally since 1993 as host of CHARLIE ROSE, which launched on PBS station Thirteen/WNET in 1991. In 2012, he added to his daily television duties, becoming Co-Anchor of CBS THIS MORNING. Rose previously worked for CBS News from 1984–1990 as the Anchor of CBS NEWS NIGHTWATCH, the network's first late-night news broadcast, on which Rose regularly conducted one-on-one interviews with high-profile newsmakers, similar to style of his PBS show.